Portable gas cooking unit with foldable base

ABSTRACT

A portable cooking unit is provided comprising a frame having an open configuration and a closed configuration. The frame comprises legs positioned in a rectangular configuration and sets of hinged and fixed horizontal braces connected between the legs at vertically spaced apart lower and upper locations. The hinged braces comprise first and second sections, both sections having an inner end and an outer end, a hinge joining the first and second sections at their respective inner ends, and pivot brackets at the outer ends connecting the first and second sections to the legs. When the frame is in the open configuration and the hinged braces are lifted at their hinges, the frame moves to the closed configuration. The cooking unit further comprises a firebox removably secured to tops of the legs of the frame when the frame is in the open configuration.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to portable gas skillets and, in particular, to a portable gas skillet having a foldable base for easy transportation and storage.

BACKGROUND ART

Gas grills are quite popular, especially for backyard or patio cooking. However, they are typically too large, heavy, or awkward to be easily transported, such as to a sporting event for a tailgate party. Many charcoal grills are smaller and lighter and are, therefore, more easily transported. However, charcoal can take a long time to come to grilling temperature from the time it is ignited and the hot coals are difficult and may be dangerous to dispose of after the grilling is finished. Moreover, neither gas grills nor charcoal grills are conducive to being used to cook food in a skillet.

Camping stoves are relatively portable and allow one to cook food with a skillet. However, they are typically too small to be used to cook for a large number of people at one time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a portable cooking unit is provided, comprising a frame having an open configuration and a closed configuration. The frame comprises first, second, third, and fourth legs positioned in a rectangular configuration; first and second horizontal braces connected between the first and second legs at vertically spaced apart lower and upper locations, respectively; third and fourth horizontal braces connected between the third and fourth legs at the lower and upper locations, respectively; fifth and sixth horizontal braces connected between the first and fourth legs at the lower and upper locations, respectively; seventh and eighth horizontal braces connected between the second and third legs at the lower and upper locations, respectively. Each of the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth horizontal braces comprises first and second sections, both sections having an inner end and an outer end; a hinge joining the first and second sections at their respective inner ends; and first and second pivot brackets at the outer ends of both of the first and second sections, the first and second pivot brackets connecting the first and second sections to the respective legs; whereby, when the frame is in the open configuration and the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth horizontal braces are lifted at their respective hinges, the frame moves to the closed configuration. The cooking unit further comprises a firebox removably secured to tops of the first, second, third, and fourth legs of the frame when the frame is in the open configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a portable gas cooking unit of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a side perspective view of the cooking unit of FIG. 1A with the base doors removed;

FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a firebox that may be used with the cooking unit of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2B is a bottom perspective view of the firebox of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a side perspective view of the firebox of FIG. 2A being placed onto the base of the cooking unit of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3A is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a burner unit that may be used with the firebox of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3B is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a burner unit that may be used with the firebox of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 4A is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a skillet pan that may be used with the cooking unit of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4B is a bottom perspective view of the skillet pan of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a base that may be used with the cooking unit of FIG. 1A, with the doors opened;

FIG. 5B is a side perspective view of the base of FIG. 5A with the doors and sides removed;

FIG. 5C is a side perspective view of a portion of a hinged brace;

FIG. 5D is a bottom perspective view of the portion of the hinged brace of FIG. 5C;

FIG. 5E is an exploded view of the portion of the hinged brace of FIG. 5C;

FIG. 5F is a side perspective view of one side of the frame in a partially folded or collapsed position;

FIG. 5G is a top perspective view of the lower portion of the base of FIG. 5A, including the tank support;

FIG. 6A is a side perspective view of the base of FIG. 5A in a partially closed or collapsed configuration; and

FIG. 6B is a side perspective view of the base of FIG. 5A in its fully closed or collapsed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

The present invention provides a portable cooking unit with a collapsible or foldable base. Referring to FIG. 1A, the cooking unit 100 may include a firebox 200, a skillet 400, and a base 500. The base 500 may include a rectangular frame 510 (FIG. 1B) and, optionally, two hinged doors 502A, 502B (collectively identified as 502) on two opposing sides of the frame 510 and two fixed panels 504A, 504B (collectively identified as 504) on the other two opposing sides of the frame 510. One door 502A and one panel 504A are identified in FIG. 1A; the frame 510 is illustrated without the doors 502 or panels 504 in FIG. 1B; and the base 500 is illustrated in FIG. 5A with the doors 502 in their open positions resting against the adjacent panels 504. The frame 510 may include a support 540 to hold a tank 10 which will be out of sight behind the doors 502 and panels 504 when the cooking unit 100 is in use. For convenience in moving the cooking unit 100, wheels 506 may be secured to the bottom of the base 500.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the firebox 200 may include a housing 202 and a burner 300 within the housing 202. The firebox 200 may also include controls, such as a button 204 to push to light the burner 300 and dials 206 used to adjust the flame. It will be appreciated that the controls 204, 206 and their arrangement that are described and illustrated are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. For example, the burner 300 illustrated in FIG. 2A and in FIG. 3A is comprised of three concentric elements and each element may have its own adjustment dial 206. In contrast, the burner 310 illustrated in FIG. 3B comprises a single spiral element and therefore uses a single adjustment dial 206.

The bottom of the firebox 200 may include feet 208 that may fit into openings at the top of the legs (collectively identified as 512) of the frame 510, as illustrated in FIG. 2C, thereby removably securing the firebox 200 to the base 500. The firebox may also include handles 210 to provide a convenient way to place the firebox 200 onto the base 500 and to lift the firebox 200 off of the base 500.

FIG. 3A illustrates one embodiment of a burner 300 that may be used in the firebox 200. The burner 300 may include a number of concentric elements, such as three elements 302A, 302B, 302C. FIG. 3B illustrates another embodiment of a burner 310 having a single, spiral element 312. As will be appreciated, burners having other configurations may be used in the firebox 200.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an embodiment of a skillet 400 that may be used with the cooking unit 100. The diameter of the skillet 400 may correspond to the diameter of the opening of the firebox 200. To secure the skillet 400 onto the firebox 200, tabs or pins 402 may be spaced apart around a rim 404 on the bottom 406 of the skillet. The pins 402 may engage slots 212 (FIG. 2A) spaced around the top of the opening of the firebox 200. When the skillet is then turned (counterclockwise in FIG. 2A), the pins may secure the skillet 400 to the firebox 200 and prevent the skillet 400 from being dislodged while it is being used to cook food on the cooking surface 408. The skillet 400 may also include handles 410 spaced apart around the rim to easily move the skillet 400, especially when it is hot.

Referring to FIG. 5A, one door 502A may be secured to one of the legs 512A of the frame 510 with hinges 520. The other door 502B may be secured to the diagonally opposite leg 512C with hinges (not shown). In their closed positions, the first door 502A closes against one of the adjacent legs 512D and the other door 502B closes against the adjacent leg 512B (see FIG. 1A). In FIG. 5A, one door 502A is shown in its fully open position, having been pivoted approximately 270 degrees from its closed position (FIG. 1A) to rest against or adjacent to the outer surface of one of the fixed panels 504A. The other door 502B is likewise shown in its fully open position against the outer surface of the other fixed panel 504B. While the doors 504 are illustrated as being secured to their respective legs 512 with three hinges 508, it will be appreciated that they may be secured with any number of hinges that is appropriate for the size and weight of the doors 504. The doors 502 may be kept in their closed position with any type of latch, such as a magnetic latch 514.

FIG. 5B illustrates the frame 510 of the base 500 with the doors 502 and fixed panels 504 removed. Four vertical legs 512A, 512B, 512C, 512D are arranged in a rectangular configuration. Two horizontal fixed braces 516A, 516D may be connected between two adjacent legs 512A, 512D at upper and lower locations, respectively. Similarly, another two horizontal fixed braces 516B, 516C may be connected between the other two adjacent legs 512B, 512C at the upper and lower locations, respectively.

Two horizontal hinged braces 518A, 518D may be connected between two adjacent legs 512A, 512B at the upper and lower locations, respectively. Similarly, another two horizontal hinged braces 518B, 518C may be connected between the other two adjacent legs 512C, 512D at the upper and lower locations, respectively. Each hinged brace 518A, 518B, 518C, 518D may include two sections (518A-1 and 518A-2, 518B-1 and 518B-2, 518C-1 and 518C-2, 518D-1 and 518D-2, respectively) connected to each other with a hinge at their inner ends and connected to the legs with a hinged bracket at their outer ends.

In the FIGs., the lower location is approximately at the bottom of the legs 512 and the upper location is approximately one-third of the length of the legs 512 from the top. However, the upper and lower locations may be at other positions along the legs 512. Additional sets of fixed and hinged braces may also be used depending on the size and weight of the cooking unit 100.

FIGS. 5C and 5D are close up views of a portion of two sections 518A-1, 518A-2 of a representative hinged brace 518A. The two sections 518A-1, 518A-2 are connected to each other with a hinge 520 at their respective inner ends. The outer ends of the two sections 518A-1, 518A-2 are connected to the legs (only one of which 512B is shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D) with a hinged bracket 522. A plate 524 may be secured to the top of the inner end of one of the sections 518A-1 of the hinged brace 518. A pin 526 inserted through a hole 528 in the plate and through a hole 530 in the inner end of the other section 518A-2 of the hinged brace 518A (FIG. 5E) locks the two sections 518A-1, 518A-2 together in their open position and prevents the hinge 520 from pivoting. When the pin 526 is removed from the holes 528, 530 and the inner ends of the two sections 518A-1, 518A-2 are lifted upward, as illustrated in FIG. 5F, the hinge 520 and hinged brackets 522 pivot and the connected legs 512A, 512B are pulled together. When all of the hinged braces 518A, 518B, 518C, 518D are unlocked and lifted, the two sides of the frame 510 with the fixed braces 516A, 516B, 516C, 516D move towards each other and the base 500 may be placed in its closed or collapsed position as illustrated FIGS. 6A and 6B.

FIG. 5G illustrates the lower portion of the frame 510 of the base 500. The lower portion may include a tank support 540 that may include two fixed braces 542A, 542B extending between the hinged braces 518C, 518D of the frame 510, one on each side of the hinges. The tank support 540 may also include two hinged braces 544A, 544B extending between the two fixed braces 542A, 542B of the tank support 540. The hinged brace 544A has two sections 544A-1, 544A-2 and the other hinged brace 544B has two sections 544B-1, 544B-2. As with the hinged braces 518A, 518B, 518C, 518D of the frame 510, the two sections of each hinged brace 544A, 544B of the tank support 540 may be connected to each other at their inner ends with a hinge and may be connected at their outer ends to the fixed braces 542A, 542B with hinge brackets. A clamp, such as a screw clamp 546, may be used to secure a bottom flange of the tank 10 to the tank support 540.

In one embodiment, the skillet 400 has an outer diameter of about 44 inches and the cooking surface 408 has a diameter of about 33 inches. The firebox 200 is about 33 inches on each side; the opening of the firebox 200 has a diameter of about of about 28 inches. The concentric burner elements 302A, 302B, 302C of the embodiment of the burner 300 have diameters of about 28 inches, 20 inches, and 13 inches, respectively. The spiral burner element 310 of another embodiment has an outer diameter of about 28 inches. The legs 512 of the base 500 are about 24 inches high and the fixed braces 516 are about 21 inches long. The hinged braces 518 are about 21 inches long and each section is about 10.5 inches long. The braces 542A, 542B of the tank support 540 are located about 5.625 inches from the lower fixed braces 516D, 516C, respectively; the hinged braces 544A, 544B between the fixed braces 542A, 542B of the tank support 540 are about 8.25 inches long and are located about 7 inches from the lower hinged braces 518D, 518C, respectively. The doors 502A, 502B and the panels 504A, 504B are about 21 inches high by about 23 inches wide. It will be appreciated that these dimensions are merely representative and not limiting.

The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable cooking unit, comprising: a frame having an open configuration and a closed configuration, the frame comprising: first, second, third, and fourth legs positioned in a rectangular configuration; first and second horizontal braces connected between the first and second legs at vertically spaced apart lower and upper locations, respectively; third and fourth horizontal braces connected between the third and fourth legs at the lower and upper locations, respectively; fifth and sixth horizontal braces connected between the first and fourth legs at the lower and upper locations, respectively; seventh and eighth horizontal braces connected between the second and third legs at the lower and upper locations, respectively; each of the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth horizontal braces comprising: first and second sections, both sections having an inner end and an outer end; a hinge joining the first and second sections at their respective inner ends; and first and second pivot brackets at the outer ends of both of the first and second sections, the first and second pivot brackets connecting the first and second sections to the respective legs; whereby, when the frame is in the open configuration and the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth horizontal braces are lifted at their respective hinges, the frame moves to the closed configuration; and a firebox removably secured to tops of the first, second, third, and fourth legs of the frame when the frame is in the open configuration.
 2. The portable cooking unit of claim 1, further comprising: a first panel secured to the first and second legs; a second panel, opposing the first panel, secured to the third and fourth legs; a first door secured with a hinge to the first leg, the first door having a closed position extending between the first leg and the fourth leg and having an open position resting alongside an outer surface of the first panel; and a second door, opposing the first door, secured with a hinge to the third leg, the second door having a closed position extending between the third leg and the second leg and having an open position resting alongside an outer surface of the second panel.
 3. The portable cooking unit of claim 1, further comprising a fuel tank support, comprising: first and second spaced apart horizontal tank braces connected between the fifth and seventh horizontal braces at the lower location; and third and fourth spaced apart horizontal tank braces connected between the first and second horizontal tank braces.
 4. The portable cooking unit of claim 3, wherein the third and fourth horizontal tank braces both comprise: first and second sections, both sections having an inner end and an outer end; a hinge joining the first and second sections at their respective inner ends; and first and second pivot brackets at the outer ends both of the first and second sections, the first and second pivot brackets connecting the first and second sections of the third and fourth horizontal tank braces to the first and second horizontal tank braces.
 5. The portable cooking unit of claim 1, wherein the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth horizontal braces each further comprises: a plate affixed to a top surface of the inner end of the first section, covering the hinge, and extending over a top surface of the inner end of the second section; and a locking pin insertable through a hole in the plate and a hole in the second section; whereby: when the locking pin is inserted through the holes in the plate and second section, the hinge is prevented from pivoting; and when the locking pin is removed from the holes in the plate and second section, the hinge is allowed to pivot.
 6. The portable cooking unit of claim 1, wherein the firebox comprises: a housing; and a gas burner within the housing.
 7. The portable cooking unit of claim 6, wherein the gas burner comprises a plurality of separate, individually controlled, concentric elements.
 8. The portable cooking unit of claim 6, wherein the gas burner comprises a spiral element.
 9. The portable cooking unit of claim 6, wherein the firebox further comprises four feet extending downward from a bottom of the housing and configured to be insertable into open tops of the first, second, third, and fourth legs of the base. 